Implementing Reform of Legacy Housing Stock Against Bushfire: A Legislative Basis

Context

Spatial planning is cited as a term encompassing methods, processes, and tools, at the centre which direct the location of economic, social, and environmental activities within the landscape (Europäische Kommission, 2000). To achieve these ends policymakers rely upon various different governing assemblages which includes framing instruments; information; regulatory tools; compulsory acquisition of land; voluntary ‘opt-in’ processes; taxes and charges as tools; and liability shielding (Further reading: Macintosh et al., 2013; Roach, 2016). Many of these instruments are codified through different legislative regimes, however in the state of Victoria (Australia) it is the ‘planning scheme’ which is utilized to coordinate spatial planning (Parliament of Victoria, 1988). The ‘planning scheme’ refers to the combined municipal/shire planning documents which constitute the rules and regulations around land use in each Local Government Area (‘LGA’) known as the Local planning Policy Framework; additionally, the planning scheme includes the State Planning Policy Framework, and the Victorian Planning Provisions, in addition to the overarching Metropolitan Plan ‘Plan Melbourne 2017-2050’ (Department of the Environment, Land, Water and Planning, 2017b). This combined scheme exists as legislative instruments created by the Planning and Environment Act (1987).